Julius Thomas was called for a chop block penalty in Sunday’s game against Arizona. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

There are six different chop block rules written in the NFL rulebook. Here are the two in question regarding the penalty Broncos left tackle Ryan Clady and tight end Julius Thomas drew while blocking Arizona defensive end Calais Campbell that caused Cardinals coach Bruce Arians to make claims of dirty play following the Broncos’ 41-20 win Sunday.

Here’s the definition of the usual chop block on a forward pass (Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning threw a 77-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas on the play that was nullified because of the penalty):

Player A1 chops a defensive player while the defensive player is physically engaged above the waist by the blocking attempt of Player A2.

This was not the case Sunday. Thomas threw his cut block on Campbell, whose right knee gave out before he made contact with Clady. In fact, Campbell seemed to fall into Clady after his knee went out. Clady and Campbell’s helmet’s collided, but Clady pulled his hands back, as if he knew contact meant chop block.

Here’s the rulebook definition of a Chop Block on Pass (with lure):

On a forward pass play, Player A1 chops a defensive player while Player A2 confronts the defensive player in a pass-blocking posture but is not physically engaged with the defensive player.

This was the infraction the Broncos’ duo committed. Clady was in the act of blocking Campbell, when Thomas went low.

Calais Campbell of the Arizona Cardinals falls after being tripped up by Peyton Manning (18) of the Denver Broncos on an interception return during an NFL game on Oct. 5, 2014. Campbell later left the game after tearing his MCL after a hit by Ryan Clady and Julius Thomas. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

The Cardinals did not escape Sports Authority Field at Mile High without significant injuries across their once undefeated team.

But the one that stood out the most to Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians and veteran wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald was a Broncos chop block play by tackle Ryan Clady and tight end Julius Thomas that sent defensive team captain Calais Campbell to the ground may have torn his MCL. Thomas was officially called for the penalty, which negated a 77-yard touchdown run by Demaryius Thomas. Arians was clearly fuming after the game and didn’t mince words.

“I’ve been coaching for 37 years,” Arians said. “It’s the dirtiest play I’ve seen in the National Football League. It was a flat chop block and it put him out of the game. I’ve never seen anything like it. I know John Fox. He’s a great coach and a great guy. But somebody has got to answer to that. A fine isn’t going to do it when he’s going to miss three to four weeks on a blatant chop block.”

Kevin Vickerson slowly dressed as he spoke to a handful of reporters in the Kansas City locker room on Sunday night after the Chiefs’ 24-17 loss to the Broncos. On his mind? Getting another chance to beat Denver — the team that cut him at the end of August after four years of being the team’s starting defensive tackle.

“It was a business decision by them (the Broncos), a business decision by me to come here (to Kansas City) so I could play them twice,” Vickerson, 31, said. “They made a business decision; I made a business decision. I could have went to Cincinnati, but I chose these guys. That’s who we’re going to ride with: Chiefs.”

Ronnie Hillman is active for Sunday’s game against the Chiefs. (Steve Nehf, The Denver Post)

Broncos backup running back Ronnie Hillman and cornerback Kayvon Webster will be on the active game roster today when Denver plays the Kansas City Chiefs at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

Both players missed the opener last week after they fell ill following the Broncos’ final preseason game Aug. 28 in Dallas and missed a few days of practice and meetings. They had a full week of preparation this week so they’re up.

The question is whether Hillman and Webster got Wally Pipp’ed. Hillman was the No. 2 running back behind Montee Ball through the offseason, training camp and preseason, but No. 3 tailback C.J. Anderson ran well last week against Indianapolis, rushing four times for 27 yards.

The Broncos will dress all four running backs from their 53-man roster today — Ball, Hillman, Anderson and rookie Juwan Thompson, who plays on multiple special-teams units.

Webster was supposed to open as the Broncos’ No. 3 corner, or nickelback, but rookie Bradley Roby had an impressive debut last week against the Colts.

With Webster playing today, the Broncos will place cornerback Tony Carter on the inactive list.Read more…

The NFL Players Association representatives late Friday unanimously approved the terms of a new drug policy that includes the implementation of testing for Human Growth Hormone and an increase in the threshold for testing positive for marijuana.

The decision sets up the possibility that Denver Broncos slot receiver Wes Welker will return to the field as soon as Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. Welker will not be cleared to play until the NFL signs off on the agreement, too, which is expected on Saturday.

“This is a historic moment for our players and our league,” NFLPA president Eric Winston said in a statement. “We have collectively bargained drug policies that will keep the game clean and safe, but also provide our players with an unprecedented level of fairness and transparency. Players should be proud of their union for standing up for what was best for the game.”

Von Miller finished with two tackles on Sunday as the Broncos ease him back in following knee surgery. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

Recoveries provide inspiration. They instill confidence. But practice is just that. It is not a game. Von Miller and Chris Harris returned from ACL surgeries on Sunday night. They played, but were reminded that it was only a start.

Broncos cornerback Chris Harris returns to game action for the first time since Jan. 12 when he tore his left ACL against the Chargers. ( Joe Amon, The Denver Post)

Chris Harris oozes confidence. He turned his torn left ACL into a challenge. Could he come back as quickly as Adrian Peterson? Harris returns Sunday night just eight months after his injury against the Chargers in the playoffs.

Ben Garland suffered an ankle injury Thursday in a preseason game against the Cowboys at Dallas. (Hyoung Chang, Denver Post file)

Ronnie Hillman and Kayvon Webster inched toward availability for the season opener, participating in individual drills on Wednesday. They were limited in Monday’s practice as a concession to an undisclosed medical issue that surfaced last Thursday. They required medical attention and returned to Denver last Saturday, delayed by a day because they didn’t have proper identification to travel.

Offensive guard Ben Garland missed his second consecutive practice with a minor ankle injury. He suffered the injury last Thursday against the Cowboys.

Kayvon Webster was limited in practice Monday. He and Ronnie Hillman became ill last Thursday, and didn’t travel home with the team from Dallas. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

Running back Ronnie Hillman and cornerback Kayvon Webster were limited in the early portion of practice Monday, four days after not accompanying the team on its charter from Dallas because of an undisclosed medical issue.

Peyton Manning‘s comeback from multiple neck surgeries and his training with Duke coach David Cutcliffe has been reported and scrutinized by those in and out of NFL circles. But on Tuesday, Sept. 2, the story of the Broncos quarterback’s recovery, as well as his and Eli’s ongoing relationship with Cutcliffe, will be featured in the season premier of “60 Minutes Sports.”

Cutliffe has served as a coach and mentor to both Peyton and Eli since their college days together — Peyton was the star quarterback at Tennessee when Cutcliffe was the Vols’ offensive coordinator, and Eli was the quarterback at Mississippi when Cutcliffe was its head coach.
He molded their quarterbacking techniques, shaped their approach to the game and became almost like a family member to the Mannings.

After Peyton underwent multiple neck surgeries, he turned to Cutcliffe, now the Blue Devils’ head coach, for training and help with his technique as he slowly returned to the game. Their private mini-camps played a key role in the Peyton’s return to the field and his improved confidence after the season- and life-threatening injury.Read more…

This was supposed to be a make-or-break year for Rams quarterback Sam Bradford, but he couldn’t make it past the opening drive of Saturday’s preseason game against the Browns to see it through.

With a little more than eight minutes left in the first quarter, Bradford was hit by Armonty Bryant and after attempting to get up, quickly fell to the ground, writhing in pain. He later limped off the field on his own power, and initial tests on the knee led him to believe that he did not sustain any ligament damage. But Bradford, who was making his second preseason start since tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament last October, was of concern to Rams officials.

Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning reached his flash point in the second quarter. After a week of listening to Houston chatterbox D.J. Swearinger, who instigated a fight Thursday by throwing a punch at Demaryius Thomas, Manning had enough.Read more…

Bradley Roby will start at cornerback for the Broncos when they take on the 49ers. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

It was a fluke injury.

Broncos cornerbacks were working through a routine ball drill Saturday when Kayvon Webster twisted his ankle. The drill usually calls for the defensive backs to work on footwork and turn as a coach tosses them the ball. Webster, who has been starting at right cornerback while Chris Harris continues to recover from knee surgery, caught it and was tiptoeing near the back of the end zone when his ankle gave way.

An MRI exam was negative and there is hope Webster will only miss two or three days of practice next week, when the Broncos match up against the Houston Texans.

C.J. Anderson left the Broncos-Seahawks game in the second quarter with a concussion. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

First it was Montee Ball, the Broncos’ starting running back who was ruled out for at least the first couple of preseason games because of an appendectomy.

Now the Broncos will be without C.J. Anderson for at least some practice time in the upcoming week, per the NFL’s concussion protocol.

Anderson, No. 3 on the Broncos’ depth chart at running back, was flattened during the second quarter of the Broncos’ preseason opener against Seattle on Thursday and was held on the field while the team’s medical staff tended to him. He later walked off on on his own, but was clearly disoriented and team officials later announced that he had sustained a concussion.Read more…

Paul Richardson returned to practice with the Seahawks on Monday, and said he’s comfortable playing at 178 pounds, 20 more than in college. (Karl Gehring, Denver Post file)

RENTON, Wash. — Receiver Paul Richardson timed the snap and raced past cornerback Richard Sherman on Monday. The pass was underthrown, but it provided a glimpse of why the Seahawks think so highly of the rookie from CU. Richardson returned to practice after dealing with a shoulder injury and said he expects to play Thursday against the Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, where he enjoyed success in college against CSU.

After spending training camp working out on the side to rehabilitate the ACL injury in his right knee, the Broncos’ starting right cornerback learned Monday during a visit with Dr. James Andrews in Gulf Breeze, Fla., that his ACL is injured no more.

Harris said he’s not sure when the Broncos will clear him to practice, but he hopes to put on the pads and helmet and start participating in individual and position drills later this week. It’s unlikely Harris would play in a preseason game but he vows to be ready by the regular-season opener Sept. 7 against Indianapolis at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

Denver Broncos defensive end DeMarcus Ware did not practice Monday because of a bruised right leg. (Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post)

DeMarcus Ware pulled up limping Sunday afternoon. Because it’s July, not September, the Broncos are proceeding cautiously. The star pass rusher is not practicing Monday after sitting out the second half of Sunday’s workout.

Nicki Jhabvala is a Broncos beat writer for The Denver Post. She was previously the digital news editor for sports. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor. She also spent two years as a home page editor at the New York Times.